The provincial Department of Health is charging one of its officials for allegedly favouring a family member during a job interview.
This follows after interviews were done for the appointment of cleaners and groundsmen at Matibidi Hospital near Bushbuckridge.
The department advertised posts for the above-mentioned posts in October 2015. A number of candidates from the surrounding community were shortlisted and interviewed for the eight vacant posts. The interviews were conducted in April this year, with appointment supposed to be effective from May 1 of this year.
After the conclusion of the interviews, the department received a complaint from a concerned group called Mphahlama Task Team, representing the community of Matibidi.
While the matter was being investigated, the appointments were put on hold. The allegations leveled by the concerned group against some of the officials who participated in the interviews included nepotism, corruption and cadre deployment.
The investigation outcome, however, revealed that there was neither corruption nor cadre deployment.
There was, in fact, evidence of nepotism. It was discovered that one of the officials of the department, who participated in the interviews, is a relative of one of the interviewees recommended for the appointment as cleaner, which was nullified.
Upon further investigation, the said official disclosed that indeed the candidate recommended for appointment was his sister, and that he did not know that he had to recuse himself from the interviews because of the relationship.
The department has since put the official on precautionary suspension pending formal charges against him. The recommendation for appointment of the applicant has also been nullified. However, all the other posts will be filled, as the head of department has signed their appointment letters.
“The department would like to put it straight that it will not allow the practice of nepotism or any form of favours for the appointment of applicants in various posts.
“The department is an equal-opportunities employer and does not provide favours for anyone,” said departmental spokesman, Mr Dumisani Malamule.
“Anyone who is found to have practised acts of corruption, nepotism or any discrimination factors will be dealt with accordingly.
“The department would like to thank the Mphahlama Task Team for bringing the matter forward and also encourages the public to report such cases, whereby people are seeking employment through favours,” he concluded.
